The company introduced three smartphones, based on a modified version of the Android, called Android open source project (AOSP), for the X series.

“The X range of phones is targeted at the growth markets where low-cost smartphones are growing at over four times,” Nokia’s devices and services executive vice-president Stephen Elop told reporters here.

Nokia’s X range runs Android applications, Microsoft services and signature Nokia experiences such as Here maps. The X model will be available immediately for 89 euros, excluding taxes. The other two models — X+ and XL — will be available in early second quarter for 99 euros and 109 euros, respectively, Elop said.

Nokia X comes with a 4-inch screen and a 3MP camera, whereas XL has a 5-inch screen and a 5MP camera.

It is for the first time that Nokia has come out with a phone which has Android-based applications. This is a move by the company in order to get a pie of the Android phone market.

According to the IDC figures of the last quarter of 2013, Android had a 78.1 per cent share of global smartphone shipments, while the Microsoft Windows Phone platform share stood at 3 per cent.

The release of the phones comes just days ahead of its scheduled takeover by Microsoft. The software giant had acquired the handset business of Nokia for $7.2 billion last year.

Elop said the X range of phones would become a feeder system for its Lumia range.

Apart from the X range of phones, Nokia also introduced one Internet enabled entry level phone for 29 euros and an Asha range of phone for 45 euros, which will be available immediately.